Volume 1, Issue No. 15
OPINION/COMMENTARY
/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /
. . . . . A community service of The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail. com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . .
Our latest as of Monday, December 2, 2019
~ On this moment on Saturday (November 30, 2019) in Manila, the Philippines shone its brightest, as if telling the world we're no savages as critics claimed, but rather a cultured, freedom-loving people who knew how to work, play, and be merry when the occasion calls for it. The 30th Southeast Asian Games reeled off to a show of pomp and pageantry, showcasing a hodgepodge of culture, history, and patriotism.
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2019 SOUTHEAST ASIAN GAMES
A Proud, Shining Moment for the Philippines
By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ
Editor, The Filipino Web Channel
“Once you embrace your value, talents and strengths, it neutralizes when others think less of you.” ―
To call it a success is an understatement. The fact is, it's a shining moment for the Philippines, and in extension, for the government of President Rodrigo Duterte, and to a large extent, for all Filipinos wherever they are.
Surely, it generated so much goodwill by showcasing the "other side" less known to the world. And that side is a competitive but kindly sporting population; a nation that could rally to a good cause despite unfair criticisms; a proud people answering to the many challenges faced by a reformist administration.
Though at times I got teary-eyed, I'm well-pleased by the uproarious show of unity of the thousands of kababayans who were there and the hundreds more of our fellow Southeast Asians participating in the 11-day sporting event, thus far the biggest in its history.
For more than one hour, I stayed glued on YouTube watching the coverage by the different news outlets and imagined myself being there, savoring the moment of splendor, and sharing with the world this milestone that effectively neutralizes the negative publicity being whipped up by political partisans.
Hearing the melodic strains of "Manila," the song written and popularized by the Hotdog band in the '70s, I felt my feet lifted me off my armchair. This tune, plus the pageantry, and the impressive display of patriotism, carried me away like it was touching my heart.
The show of flags was particularly stirring for me as did the elegant display of native attire such as the salakot, the barong, the baro't saya; the iconic bahay kubo being carried bayanihan style, and the many other little elements that made up the Philippines everyone knew it to be. One had to be Filipino to feel immense pride.
Suddenly, the phrase "Hinahanap-hanap kita Manila" had that immediacy to be fulfilled. Truth be told, I wanted to fly out of Toronto if only to witness the unfolding events in person. There's a surge of affection for the Motherland.
I must be missing the home country to feel this way, I told myself. The occasional visits twice in twenty-five years had not been enough to cast off the nostalgia the SEA Games had rekindled.
I watched how President Duterte reacted - he smiled, clapped softly, and swayed a little; while Senator Ronald de la Rosa gave his all, dancing, laughing, applauding like everyone in the arena did.
The native dance "Singkil" and the song numbers "Minamahal Kita" and the re-titled "Kay Ganda ng Pilipinas" (originally "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika") had given the ceremonies an enriching Filipino character.
And fittingly as a tribute to the Millenial and the Gen Z generations, hip-hop or rap music rendered by four young performers was outstanding if only to show the world the Philippines was very much abreast of the current genre.
It's difficult not to be emotionally affected by this showcase of culture, sports, history, and contemporaneous events, especially for one who has been away for so long that it had appeared unbelievable that the homeland was capable of staging a world-class event.
The fact is the Philippines is so adept at mounting such activity. I just found out that truth in this 2019 SEA Games. (Copyright 2019. All Rights Reserved).
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